Washboard.



l C. GHRISTBNSON.

WASHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 1, 1910.

1,000,990. Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

N c Q u I tg f T., i 1m l 11111111] @Chri sensn,

UN 11%@ A STATES PATENT @FFiCil-l CHRISTIAN CHRISTENSON, OF CLIFFORD, COLORADO.

WASHBOARD.

Specication of Letters Patent. Patented Allg'. 22, 1911. Application filed November 1, 1910.

Serial No. 590,201.

To @ZZ whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CrinisriAN Ci-IRisTnN- soN, citizen of the United States, residing at Clifford, in the county of Lincoln and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nashboards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wash boards, more particularly to devices of this character containing a suitable adjustable support for the soap, and has j for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase the efliciency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is readily adapted to cakes of soap of various sizes, and which may be adjusted to the size of the cake.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construct-ion as hereinafter described and then specifically pointed out in the claim and shown in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved device; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse section enlarged on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 are perspective views of the parts which constitute the soap holding portions of the improved device.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved device comprises a body 10, preferably of wood and provided with spaced legs or feet 11 which are designed to support the body in the tub. Fitting around the side and top edges of the body 10 is a strengthening band 12, preferably of metal, and attached to the face of the board is the usual rubbing surface, representedat 13, and preferably of zinc or galvanized iron of the usual form. Formed through the body 10, preferably intermediate the rubbing surface 13 are one or more openings, represented at 14 and somewhat larger than the cake of soap which is to be employed. The openings extend entirely through the body 10 and are bounded on three sides with the rubbing surface 13.

As before stated, two of the openings will preferably be formed, but as the soap supporting and actuatingy mechanism is precisely alike in both, except that one is right and the other left handed, the description of one will suffice for both.

Connected to the back of the body 10 above and below each of the openings are supporting members 15 each projected over the openings for a distance above and below the same, and each forked as shown at 16 at its terminal opposite the opening, as is indicated in Fig. 1. VFitting within each opening 14 is a follower plate 17, preferably of metal and somewhat smaller than the opening and concave on one side as represented at 18, the object to be hereinafter explained.

Connected to the rear side of the follower 17 are a plurality of pins 19, one for each of the forked portions 16 of the supporting members and extending through the same. Two of the pins are preferably threaded and provided with winged heads 20, so that the follower can be moved toward or away from the forked portions 16 of the members 15, while the remaining pins 19 operate loosely through the other forked portion 16. Secured to the inner edge of each opening 14 is a plate or strip 21 each having a plurality of studs or nodules 22 extending inwardly therefrom. Located within the opening 14 at the opposite side, or next to the binding member 12, is another strip 23 having slots 24 spaced apart therethrough. Fitting by its ends within the slots isa resilient plate 26 having its terminals 27 rolled around pins 25 which bear at their ends against the inner faces of and are thereby movably coupled to the strip. The plate 26 is so curved as to remain normally with its rolled terminals 27 within the slots 24 and lying substantially in parallel relations to the plate 23, but movable away from the plate by suitable devices operating against its rear face. For the purpose of illustration a conventional adjusting device is shown, consisting of a threaded pin 2S operating through a threaded aperture in the plate 23 and with a winged head 29 at its outer end and a swivel bearing member 30 at its inner end, the swivel plate being arranged to bear against the inner face of the plate 26. By this arrangement it will be obvious that by rotating the pin 28 the plate 26 may be curved inwardly toward the convex edge 18 of the follower 17, the

conveXity of the vf ollower permitting this movement of the resilient plate. The plate 26 is provided with a plurality of spurs or nodules 31 corresponding to the nodules 22 of the plate 21.

The cake of soap, ally at 32, is located upon and between the plates 2l and 26 with the nodules 22-31 engaging against the cake at opposite sides. Then by actuating the threaded pin 28 the plate 26 will be compressed against one side of the cake and in turn compress the latter against the nodules 22 on the opposite side, and thus effectually support the cake of soap in position. Then by adjusting the follower plate by rotating the threaded pins 19, the outer face of the cake of soap may be disposed level with or protrude beyond the rubbing surface 13 and in position to be engaged by the clothes while being washed. Thus, during the washing operation the laundress can apply indicated conventionthe garments to the soap in the course of the rubbing operation and without removing them from the tub or ceasing the rubbing movement. The body 10 will be of sufficient Width so that the space at the side of or between the special holding devices will be suflicient to permit the usual rub` bing operations, so that the presence of the special holding devices does not interfere with the ordinary uses of the board. By this means it is not necessary for the laundress to stop the rubbing operations to apply the soap, but the soap can be very easily and readily applied by simply moving the v to force the cake outwardly,

the follower 17 operating garments to one side and passing them over the soap, thus imparting to the garments the requisite quantity of soap. yis the cake of soap wears away, the pins 19 are rotated thus the soap is entirely used'up and no waste occurs.

The improved device is simple in construction, is strong and durable, and is designed more i particularly for the larger class of laundry tubs, but may be employed in connection with the smaller tubs if preferred.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A. wash board having an opening therethrough, a follower in said opening, means to adjust said follower in said opening, a plate having slots spaced apart and connected to one wall of said opening, a resilient member perforated at the ends and slidable by its perforated ends through the slots of said plate, pins extending through the perforations of the resilient member and bearing against the inner face of the slotted plate, and means operating against said resilient member adapted to engage a cake of soap located upon the fol` lower within the opening and press the same against the opposite wall of the opening.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHRIS. CHRISTENSON. [n s] lVitnesses E. B. THOMPSON, O. T. BoUL'roN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

